Law Blog Atlanta

An Indiana-based truck driver was killed on Wednesday morning when his 2005 Freightliner truck was involved in an accident that shut down the southbound lanes of I-75.

Curtis L. Keown, a 63-year-old man hailing from Evansville, Indiana, was the only fatality in the accident. He was not wearing a safety belt.

The attorneys at Pope & Howard, P.C. specialize in accidents involving tractor trailers, and can help the victims of accidents like this as well as their families seek the compensation they deserve. They have years of experience handling these types of catastrophic cases, and can conduct thorough investigations as to the cause of the accident as well as other factors.

If you or someone you care about has been severely injured in a tractor trailer accident or automobile accident, please contact us at Pope & Howard, P.C., today. You can reach us by calling (404) 994-4486 or by visiting our website at www.popehoward.com.

Georgia Supreme Court Justice George H. Carley Honored at Recent Ceremony

ATLANTA, GA  — Geoff Pope, Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) President and co-founder of Atlanta law firm Pope & Howard, P.C., recently presented the Champion of Justice Award to honor Georgia Supreme Court Justice George H. Carley.

During a luncheon at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, the GTLA honored Justice Carley as the Champion of Justice Award recipient for 2011. The award is given at the discretion of the GTLA President to groups or an individual. Membership in GTLA is not a requirement for the Champion of Justice Award.

“It was a pleasure to present the GTLA Champion of Justice Award for 2011,” said Pope. “Supreme Court Justice George Carley deserved this award for his numerous achievements, and it was an honor to be part of the group to recognize his contributions to Georgia law and justice in general.”

Justice Carley was appointed to the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor George D. Busbee on April 5, 1979, and was elected to a full six-year term in 1980. He was reelected at the 1986 and 1992 General Elections. He served as Chief Judge 1989-1990 and was a Presiding Judge 1991-1993. On March 16, 1993, Governor Zell Miller appointed him to the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was elected to a six-year term in 1994 and reelected at the 2000 and 2006 General Elections. Governor Miller also sworn him in as Presiding Justice on July 1, 2009.

Justice Carley is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the Old Warhorse Lawyers Club (President 1997) and the Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court (President 1993-1995) and Gridiron.

Pope was elected GTLA President in 2011, and has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1993, when he earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law. His profile is available online at http://popehoward.com/pope.php.

About GTLA

GTLA is a statewide membership organization comprised of 1,800 attorneys, paralegals and law students. GTLA works tirelessly to support and preserve the Civil Justice System, the right to trial by jury, access to the courts for all people, and an independent judiciary.

About Pope & Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, trucking and tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online at www.popehoward.com to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients.

Reputable trial lawyer of Pope & Howard P.C. and President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Geoff  Pope, will be speaking on September 15, 2011 at the Ritz Carleton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia from 11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

Pope will be presenting information on how to effectively use the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association to benefit legal practices. Pope’s discussion will be part of the Beasly Allen “Legal Strategies Atlanta 2011 Seminar.”

As President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, Pope contributes to the efforts of the organization, which works in the legislative, political and media arenas to ensure that Georgians know and understand the importance of their rights to justice and are protected. For more information about the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association visit their website at http://www.gtla.org/GA/.

About Pope & Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, trucking and tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online at popehoward.com to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients.

On August 17, 2011, Geoff Pope co-founder of the Atlanta law firm Pope & Howard P.C. and President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), will be a guest speaker at the Columbus Trial Lawyer Association luncheon.

The scheduled luncheon will provide an opportunity for Pope to meet with members of GTLA and the newly elected Columbus, Georgia officers, including: President Brandon Peak, Vice President David Reyfield and Treasurer Mary Meeks.

As President of GTLA, Pope contributes to the efforts of the organization, which works in the legislative, political and media arenas to ensure that Georgians know and understand the importance of their rights to justice and are protected. For more information about GTLA visit their website at http://www.gtla.org/GA/.

About Pope & Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, trucking and tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online at popehoward.com to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients.

Pope & Howard, P.C. Howard Will Speak to Attorneys Starting Out on Their Own

ATLANTA, GA (06/15/2011)  – Atlanta-based trial attorney Marc Howard will be a guest speaker at an Atlanta Bar Association breakfast meeting (ABA) June 16^th at the Buckhead Club.

Howard, a founding partner of the law firm Pope & Howard, P.C., will speak on a panel focused on the topic, “Tips for Lawyers Newly on Their Own: A One Hour Q & A,” held by the ABA’s Sole Practitioner/Small Firm Section. Other panel speakers include Janis Rosser, Esq., and Robert Wildstein, Esq.

The panel will begin with each attorney speaking briefly to the audience about his or her professional background before turning the floor over to questions. Audience members are encouraged to ask about anything related to success in the legal field, including starting out at a small practice and trying cases.

“It’s very different going from being an associate to running your own law firm, and I’m happy to share my story with the other members of the ABA,” Howard said. “Hopefully, others can learn from my experience as a founding partner of a successful law firm like Pope & Howard.”

Attendees are encouraged to register for the panel in advance, as admission costs will increase at the door. Members of the Sole Practitioner/Small Firm section and non-members alike can register online at www.atlantabar.org.

Howard, named as a Georgia Super Lawyer and as a “Legal Elite” lawyer in Georgia Trend Magazine, received his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia’s School of Law in 1993. He and partner Geoff Pope started the Pope & Howard, P.C., law firm in Atlanta in 2005.

About Pope & Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, trucking and tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online at http://www.popehoward.com to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients. Call 404.885.9999 for additional information or schedule an appointment.

Founders of Pope & Howard, P.C. Inducted into The National Trial Lawyers

ATLANTA, GA (May 4, 2011)—The National Trial Lawyers has recognized attorneys Geoff Pope and Marc Howard of Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Georgia.

“Geoff and I are both thrilled to be included on this exclusive list of trial lawyers,” said Howard. “We are both very involved in our cases and in the legal community at large, so we feel honored that an organization recognized this deep commitment to our work.”

Membership of The National Trial Lawyers, obtained through special invitation only, pinpoints the Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state. Attorneys are selected through a rigorous evaluation process that reviews a candidate’s leadership skills, reputation, influence, stature, and profiling as a trial lawyer, both in civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense cases.

According to the website for The National Trial Lawyers, http://thenationaltriallawyers.org, the organization’s primary goal is to “provide news, information, and education to attorneys who practice or have an interest in trial work, including civil plaintiff and criminal defense law.”

“We are excited to be included amongst so much talent from the state of Georgia,” Pope added.

Pope and Howard, co-founders of the Pope & Howard, P.C. Law Firm in Atlanta, Georgia, are committed to serving and protecting Georgians’ rights, and will continue providing high-end legal representation to individuals who suffer severe personal or financial injury due to the wrongful conduct of others.

If you would like to see the full list of the National Trial Lawyers’ choices for the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Georgia, please visit http://thenationaltriallawyers.org/top-100-lawyers-georgia.html.

About Pope & Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, trucking and tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online at http://www.popehoward.com to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients.

Trial Lawyer Pope, of Pope& Howard, P.C., Will Also Speak at Post-Dedication Courthouse Ceremony

ATLANTA, GA (April 27, 2011)— Americus native and upcoming Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA) President, Geoff Pope, will be a special guest at the dedication of the new Sumter County Courthouse in Americus, Georgia. Pope, a decorated Super Lawyer and founding partner of the Atlanta-based law firm Pope & Howard, will also be a guest speaker at the post-dedication reception immediately following the event on April 29, 2011.

The new courthouse, located at 500 West Lamar Street in Americus, Georgia, will replace the previous courthouse, built in 1959.

Pope, a native of Sumter County, is often a featured guest of the Wiregrass Trial Lawyers Association. “I’m honored to be attending the dedication of the new courthouse, and to have the opportunity to speak to a room filled with lawyers, judges and other professionals in Sumter County. Although I now live and practice in Atlanta, Americus will always be my home,” Pope said.

Chief Justice Carol Hunstein of the Georgia Supreme Court is also scheduled to give remarks at the Judicial Dedication ceremony.

On New Year’s Eve, an explosion at the Federal-Mogul plant in Blacksburg, Virginia seriously injured workers at the plant. Such industrial accidents often trigger an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and it is likely such an investigation will occur here.

Marc Howard, founding partner of the Pope & Howard, P.C. law firm, is a Blacksburg, Virginia native who routinely handles cases involving industrial accidents resulting in severe injuries.

“Explosion cases are some of the most difficult for the people involved, as they often result in serious burn injuries and post traumatic stress” said Howard. ‘Industrial accidents, including explosions often cause catastrophic and permanent injury.” In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were a total of 5,488 workplace fatalities in the United States in 2007.

Industrial and workplace accident litigation is an extremely complicated, sophisticated area of personal injury law. Usually, thousands of pages of documents, multiple parties, the need for electronic discovery, and large corporate defendants make industrial accident cases difficult for most Plaintiffs’ attorneys.

Contrary to what most personal injury lawyers think, workers’ compensation does not usually bar workplace injury or industrial explosion lawsuits. Contractors working at an industrial facility, for example, can usually recover against the premises owner. Employees of the facility operator may be able to recover against other contractors on the property, inspection services, and product manufacturers. In some states, employees may sue their employer for gross negligence (which often exists in the workplace accident scenario). Third-party lawsuits almost always result in a significantly larger award than the award available in the workers’ compensation system.

In the Blacksburg Federal Migul explosion case, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office stated that four contract workers sustained multiple injuries while doing maintenance on December 31, 2010. It is likely that OSHA and state investigators will review the case to determine a cause of the explosion.

Pope & Howard, P.C., www.popehoward.com, is a top rated industrial accident law firm specializing in numerous practice areas, including personal injury, construction site accident cases and premises liability cases.

Atlanta Trial Attorneys Geoff Pope and Marc Howard: Experts at Trucking Accident Cases

Atlanta-based law firm Pope and Howard, P.C. has launched a new website to promote its expertise with trucking accident cases: www.GeorgiaTruckingAttorney.com. With pages dedicated to trucking accident law, answering frequently asked questions, and information about the law firm and its results, the Georgia Trucking Attorney site is designed to help promote Pope and Howard, P.C. as the top legal experts for trucking accident cases in Georgia.

“Trucking accidents are different than other automobile accidents,” said Geoff Pope, a founding partner of the firm. “It’s important to understand the complexities of the law in these cases, and the experience of our firm has allowed us to hone our skills in this area over the years.”

Fellow founding partner Marc Howard spent many years early in his career defending trucking companies, but now joins Pope in maintaining a practice aimed at helping individuals and families get their due compensation. They believe their prior experience defending cases – including trucking cases – makes them a formidable force to have on one’s side after a tractor trailer accident.

In creating the new website, Pope and Howard hope to take on more cases that utilize their knowledge of Georgia trucking law. “It’s in the best interest of someone who’s been in an accident with a tractor trailer to hire a lawyer as soon as possible,” said Howard. “We want them to know that this is an area in which we have extensive experience.”

Atlanta-based marketing firm Meta Media, Inc. designed the site, and has worked with Pope and Howard on its online marketing strategy since 2009. “We felt a new micro-site dedicated to this specific practice area would be crucial to Pope and Howard, P.C.’s SEO strategy,” said VP of Marketing Michele Fontanelli Arnett. “A micro-site completely dedicated to trucking accident law will help Pope and Howard rank highly in natural search engine listings for trucking related terms. We designed the site, helped write content and custom wrote all SEO tags,” she added.

Pope and Howard, P.C. specializes in cases involving death and catastrophic personal injury. Other areas of their practice include auto accidents, aviation accidents and medical negligence.

Both Pope and Howard are both prominent attorneys in their field. Pope is currently the president-elect of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), while Howard was recently named one of Georgia’s Legal Elite by Georgia Trend magazine.

Please visit www.popehoward.com or call us today for more information on the Pope and Howard Law Firm or to receive your free consultation: (866) 910-0642.

About Pope and Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope and Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients.

ATLANTA, GA — 09/30/2010 – For the second year in a row, Georgia Trend magazine has named Atlanta trial lawyer Marc Howard as one of Georgia’s Legal Elite.

Georgia Trend sent questionnaires to several thousand Georgia lawyers asking them to nominate lawyers they considered the best in nine different practice areas. When the ballots were counted, Atlanta attorney Marc Howard was recognized as one of Georgia’s top personal injury lawyers.

Any attorney who is a member of the state bar and practices in Georgia was eligible to participate in the voting. The top vote-getters will be named as Legal Elite in the following areas: Business Law; Personal Injury; Criminal Law; Labor and Employment; Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights; Intellectual Property; Real Estate Law; Taxes, Trusts and Estates; Family Law and Pro Bono.

Howard — a founding partner at Pope & Howard, P.C. (http://www.popehoward.com), an Atlanta law firm specializing in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases — is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), is Chairman of the Civil Justice Political Action Committee, the political arm of GTLA, and serves on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia.

Howard, who has successfully tried and settled hundreds of personal injury and wrongful death cases, lives in Sandy Springs. Howard’s law partner, Geoff Pope, is president-elect of the GTLA.

Howard and the attorneys at Pope & Howard, P.C. are committed to serving and protecting Georgians’ rights, and will continue providing high-end legal representation to individuals who suffer severe personal or financial injury due to the wrongful conduct of others.

Please visit Pope & Howard, P.C. or call us today for more information on Marc Howard, the Pope & Howard Law Firm, or to receive your free consultation: (866) 910-0642.

About Pope & Howard, P.C.

The lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. in Atlanta, Georgia, are experienced trial lawyers dedicated to fairly representing clients for just compensation. The firm’s specialties include brain and spinal cord injuries, construction site accidents, tractor trailer, automobile and aviation accidents, and other cases involving wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury. Please visit the firm online to learn more. Free consultations are available to potential clients.